RESTAURANTS CAPE MAY

FINE DINING

The Ebbit Room at the Virginia Hotel

26 Jackson Street, (609) 884-5700

This is a very elegant restaurant with great food. The food is modern chef-designedcuisine, not any ethnicity. It often comes artfully stacked on the serving dish with something sprinkled and something drizzled. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

The Washington Inn

801 Washington Street, (609) 884-5697

This is Cape May’s favorite special occasion spot where everyone goes for birthdays andanniversaries. The food is wonderful – often a variation on some traditional “continental” dish. Suzie had veal cheeks with lobster in a champagne butter sauce (their version of Surf and Turf) Cathy Cressman Pastiu us the pastry chef and makes great desserts. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Union Park at the Macomber

727 Beach Avenue, (609) 884-8811

This is another very elegant restaurant, with lots of silver and cream and white room with Chippendale chairs. The food is wonderful often including meats that you don’t often see – like elk, or bison, or fois gras. The last time we were there, all of the dishes came to the table together, and the waiters whisked off silver domes ion unison to reveal the dishes. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

410 Bank Street

410 Bank Street, (609) 884-2127

This is a cajun/creole restaurant with delicious, spicy food. They specialize in fish, New Orleans style. The atmosphere is younger and louder that most Cape My restaurants with the tables set close together. The street behind Leith Hall is Decatur Street. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Fresco’s Seafood Trattoria

412 Bank Street, (609) 884-0366

Next door to 410 Bank Street and owned by the same person, this is a Northern Italianrestaurant. Suzie and I have spent months in Northern Italy, and I’ve seldom come across some of the dishes I find at Fresco’s. It is more like the dishes are in the style of, or inspired by, Northern Italy. They have a good selection of dishes to offer vegetarians as well. The food is wonderful and interesting and the atmosphere is informal, like 410 Bank next door. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

La Verandah at the Alcott Hotel

107 Grant Street,(609) 884-5868

If you came to Cape May instead of visiting France, have no fear. You can go to La Verandah and feel that you are in Lyons. Patric is the chef, and he cooks like he is at home in France. This isn’t French/American or French Restaurant Style food – its French food like in France. It is wonderful and noticeably less expensive than the other restaurants in this category.

MEDIUM PRICED RESTAURANTS

George’s Place

301 Beach Avenue, (609) 884-6088

I didn’t know where to put this restaurant in the list. The price is is ridiculously low and the food is great. You’d pay more at a diner or even McDonalds if you are hungry. Yet the food is delicious and nicely presented in an attractive room. We used to go there when it was a luncheonette run by the present owner’s father. The next generation, John Karapanagiotis, took it over and remodeled it into a cozy, low-key restaurant. The staff is unfailingly friendly and gracious. The first courses are large, delicious and beautifully plated. A variety of bruschettas, falafels, or humuses are typical starters. Main courses feature lamb chops, crab cakes, and various other dishes, accompanies by Greek or Caesar salad. The style is Mediterranean (with an accent on the Greek).

Cucina Rosa

301 Washington Street, (609) 898-9800

Dave Clemens (Mark Twain’s nephew) used to own a bed and breakfast in Cape May. After a while he just wanted to cook, so he and his wife sold the B&B, and he opened Cucina Rosa with his son. It serves very good Southern Italian food in a very pretty room. I once pointed out to Dave that he never had a grandma Rosa. He pointed out that his wife, Christina, is Sicilian, and did. Of course, she can’t cook! The food is great, and the restaurant is charming. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Gecko’s

31 Perry Street, (609) 898-7750

This is a southwestern and Mexican restaurant run by the people who brought you 410 Bank Street and Fresco’s. It has delicious that is not the standard fast food takeout fare that most Mexican restaurants serve. Chicken in a mole of Oaxaca is one I really enjoyed, and Suzie had an acorn squash suffed with a mixture of unexpected things including black beans and a variety of vegetables. There are mostly outdoor tables so it’s a great warm weather choice. The price is very moderate for such good food. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast. Gecko’s is between Jackson and Perry Streets.

The Mad Batter

19 Jackson Street, (609) 884-5970

This was Cape May’s first “Gourmet” restaurant a million years ago. They don’t do the artfully composed plate like the Ebbitt Room or Union Park, however, the food is very good. The price is a few steps lower than the high-price restaurants in town, and the hosts are charming and genuinely welcoming. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

The Black Duck

1 Sunset Boulevard, (609) 884-5555

An Asian Fusion restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in West Cape May, this restaurant does elegant presentation of very good food. Because it is in West Cape May (about seven blocks from the inn), it is less expensive than a similar restaurant in Cape May. I recommend it highly for a low key “New York” style interior and good, interesting food.

Aleathea’s Reastaurant at the Inn of Cape May

7 Ocean Street, (609) 884-5555

The Inn of Cape May (with the purple awnings is right across the street from Leith Hall. Aleathea’s has ocean views and a wonderful porch. Ty Menz, the chef, turns out very good food. I’ve had the lamb chops, the crab cakes, and the tuna and was very pleased with them all. The is not as elegant as the Ebbitt Room, but the restaurant is right across from the ocean, and the cost is definitely less. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

The Blue Pig at Congress Hall

251 Beach Avenue, (609) 884-8422

This is a tavern-y restaurant in Congress Hall. They have a roaring fire in the winter and patio seating in the summer. The food is good and the cost is moderate. If you order the special of the day, the cost is downright cheap. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

A Ca Mia

524 Washington Street, (609) 88-6661

Over twenty years ago, this was a Venetian style restaurant with wonderful bizarredinners. When we moved to Cape May it was sold to new owners and I was so disappointed that I refused to go back. More recently, we visited a couple of times with our nephew who was visiting Cape May, and the food pleasantly surprised us. Ravioli stuffed with lobster, cioppino, and osso buco alla Milanese were all very good at a reasonable price. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Cape Orient

315 Ocean Street, (609) 898-0088

This is Cape May’s Asian restaurant. Glendy Huang is the owner and host and treats her diners very warmly. They have very good Chinese food, as well as Thai and Japanese food Suzie is especially fond of the Saba Sushi (but Suzie is one of the few Americans who really likes mackerel) Can you say Suzie eats saba sushi by the seashore? I always opt for something Szichwan or Hunan. The restaurant also offers a number of modern chef-designed dishes mixing Western ingredients and Chinese flavors, with ymmy results. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

INEXPENSIVE RESTAURANTS

George’s Place

301 Beach Avenue, (609) 884-6088

I didn’t know where to put this restaurant in the list. The price is is ridiculously low and the food is great. You’d pay more at a diner or even McDonalds if you are hungry. Yet the food is delicious and nicely presented in an attractive room. We used to go there when it was a luncheonette run by the present owner’s father. The next generation, John Karapanagiotis, took it over and remodeled it into a cozy, low-key restaurant. The staff is unfailingly friendly and gracious. The first courses are large, delicious and beautifully plated. A variety of bruschettas, falafels, or humuses are typical starters. Main courses feature lamb chops, crab cakes, and various other dishes, accompanies by Greek or caesar salad. The style is Mediterranean (with an accent on the Greek). Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Lucky Bones Backwater Grille

1200 Route 109 South, (609) 884-2663

This is on the harbor in Cape May. It is the first thing you se when you drive off the parkway. Owned by the Washington Inn family, it is a loud pizza, ribs and seafood house with entertainment on the weekends. We go for the pizza, which is wonderful. Pizza in Naples, where pizza was invented, is always personal size, very thin crust, with not much stuff on it. The stuff that is on it is very flavorful and high quality, though. Luck Bones makes pizza like you were in Naples.

Beach

702 Beach Drive

This is Cape May’s fast food (Did you notice that we don’t have McDonald’s or Burger King?) They have burgers and fries and a really good grouper sandwich. The best thing though is the location. Right over the sand on the beach in the middle of town.

TAKEOUT

Freda’s Cafe Deli

210 Ocean Street

Right behind Freda’s Cafe on Ocean Street, only a little over a block up from Leith Hall, Freda’s deli has good pates, interesting salads, and unusual side dishes. I’d get some food to go and makes a picnic on the beach during the summer. Walking distance from the John Wesley Inn, a Cape May Bed and Breakfast.

Seaside Cheese

600 Park Boulevard (609) 884-8700

This little shop is on Park Boulevard in West Cape May. If you go over there to go antiquing or to visit the Linen Outlet, Cheeks outlet, or the wicker outlet, stop by for some Gorgonzola dolce or smoked Emmenthaler. Its the only source for good cheese in the Cape May area as the Acme doesn’t carry much.

Takeout at the Lobster House

If you go into the outer lobby of the Lobster House (just at the foot of the bridge off the Garden State Parkway) and then walk out onto the dock (instead of into the restaurant) you come to the takeout window. There are big spool tables and chairs out on the dock, two raw bars and the takeout window. You can sit out here in good weather and have the same food as inside at a fraction of the price. Or, you can take the food back and eat on the beach.

The Depot Market Cafe

409 Elmira Street

(609) 884-8030

This little building is on Elmira Street, right next to the train terminal (hence the name) They have a few inside and outside tables, but much of the business is in takeout. They are good cooks, make great soups, and are very good value.